$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
LinkedIn fake company page scam
Fraudulent LinkedIn company pages impersonate legitimate businesses to post fake job listings, collect applicant data, and redirect users to malicious websites.
“impersonation scam”
↑ 604%Key indicators
Usually targetsJob seekers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $12K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports330,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create a LinkedIn company page using stolen logos and copied descriptions from a legitimate company's real page or website.
2
They post multiple job openings and may even list fake employees to make the page look authentic.
3
Applicants who engage are directed to phishing sites for credential harvesting or are asked to provide sensitive personal data for fake onboarding.
What to do first
Verify the company page by checking for a matching official website, cross-referencing employee profiles, and looking at the page's creation date.
Related terms
fake LinkedIn companyLinkedIn business impersonationcounterfeit company pageBrand impersonation scamsLinkedInSurgingJob seekersProfessionalsBusiness partnersFreelancers and contractorsPayroll, HR, and finance teamsTech workers and developersUnited StatesUnited KingdomIndiafake LinkedIn companyLinkedIn business impersonation
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Samantha, 29, a job seekers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate brand impersonation scams situation while using LinkedIn. Scammers create a LinkedIn company page using stolen logos and copied descriptions from a legitimate company's real page or website.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They post multiple job openings and may even list fake employees to make the page look authentic.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Applicants who engage are directed to phishing sites for credential harvesting or are asked to provide sensitive personal data for fake onboarding.
The outcome
Samantha realized something was wrong when company page has very few followers despite claiming to be a large or well-known organization. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify the company page by checking for a matching official website, cross-referencing employee profiles, and looking at the page's creation date. Samantha's experience shows why company page has very few followers despite claiming to be a large or well-known organization and page was created recently but claims a long company history are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Company page has very few followers despite claiming to be a large or well-known organization
- Page was created recently but claims a long company history
- Job postings on the page ask candidates to apply through external links rather than LinkedIn's built-in apply feature
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify the company page by checking for a matching official website, cross-referencing employee profiles, and looking at the page's creation date.
- ✓Apply for jobs through the company's official website rather than through LinkedIn pages you cannot verify.
- ✓Report fake company pages to LinkedIn through the 'Report this page' option.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- LinkedIn removed over 21 million fake accounts in the first half of 2023 according to its Community Report, many of which were associated with fraudulent company pages.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Verify the company page by checking for a matching official website, cross-referencing employee profiles, and looking at the page's creation date.
- ✓Apply for jobs through the company's official website rather than through LinkedIn pages you cannot verify.
- ✓Report fake company pages to LinkedIn through the 'Report this page' option.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
LinkedIn removed over 21 million fake accounts in the first half of 2023 according to its Community Report, many of which were associated with fraudulent company pages.
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Job seekers, Professionals, Business partners
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, India, Canada
Primary channel
LinkedIn — Brand impersonation scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Job seekers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- LinkedIn removed over 21 million fake accounts in the first half of 2023 according to its Community Report, many of which were associated with fraudulent company pages.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about linkedin fake company page scam
How does the linkedin fake company page scam work?+
Scammers create a LinkedIn company page using stolen logos and copied descriptions from a legitimate company's real page or website. They post multiple job openings and may even list fake employees to make the page look authentic. Applicants who engage are directed to phishing sites for credential harvesting or are asked to provide sensitive personal data for fake onboarding.
What are the warning signs of linkedin fake company page scam?+
Company page has very few followers despite claiming to be a large or well-known organization Page was created recently but claims a long company history Job postings on the page ask candidates to apply through external links rather than LinkedIn's built-in apply feature
What should I do if I encounter linkedin fake company page scam?+
Verify the company page by checking for a matching official website, cross-referencing employee profiles, and looking at the page's creation date. Apply for jobs through the company's official website rather than through LinkedIn pages you cannot verify. Report fake company pages to LinkedIn through the 'Report this page' option.
Who is most at risk for linkedin fake company page scam?+
This scam primarily targets Job seekers, Professionals, Business partners. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, India, Canada and typically appears on LinkedIn.
Is linkedin fake company page scam getting worse?+
LinkedIn fake company page scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, IN, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.